Earth Hour 2012: The Globe Goes Dark Tonight [Video]

At 8:30 tonight, the world will go dark. The World Wildlife Foundation expects hundreds of millions of people from more than 150 countries to participate in Earth Hour tonight.

The WWF is asking people to turn off their lights at 8:30 tonight local time and Earth Hour is already making its way across the globe. The small island nation of Samoa was the first to turn off the lights and the movement has been moving, hour by hour, to more countries around the earth.

UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon said:

“Turning off our lights is a symbol of our commitment to sustainable energy for all. We need to fuel our future with clean, efficient and affordable energy. By acting together today, we can power a brighter tomorrow.”

The WWF reports that Earth hour began in Sydney, Australia, five years ago.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, said:

“What began in Sydney as a simple idea to raise awareness of climate change – to switch off the lights for an hour – has become a global success.”

Andy Ridley, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Earth Hour, added:

“We can all change the world we live in, whether that change be big or small. This year as the lights switch off, Earth Hour encourages you to commit to go beyond the hour and inspire your friends, colleagues, organization and leaders to do the same.”

Earth hour started in 2007 in a single city. Since then it has grown to a global movement that touches 1.8 billion people in 5,251 cities in nearly 150 countries and across all 7 continents. The International Space Station will even be turning off its lights this year.

Here’s a video about earth hour.

Are you going to be turning off your lights tonight? If you want to join in for Earth Hour 2012 turn your lights off from 8:30 to 9:30 tonight.